This 231.5-mile journey from Portland, ME, to Lubec, ME, will take approximately 5 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost estimated at $37, this route is best tackled as a single-day adventure, though you could easily extend it if you prefer a more leisurely pace. You'll primarily navigate via I-295 and US-1, experiencing a mix of highway and local road driving. This trip stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent New England feel throughout. Consider this a straightforward drive with a clear destination in mind.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.8 miles from City of Portland, ME
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 295
46.3 mi
52m
US 1
30.6 mi
45m
Route 1
25.3 mi
36m
Route 3
17.6 mi
21m
Acadia Highway
13.4 mi
15m
Maine Turnpike
9.8 mi
10m
County Road
9.3 mi
13m
Main Street
8.7 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 46.3 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 31 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,388 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,895
Quietest
2 AM
~84 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
28.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Portland, ME and Lubec, ME.
1
Start on Seashore Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·Seashore Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Seashore Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Seashore Avenue
3
Continue on Whitehead Street
351 ft·15 sec·Whitehead Street
4
Continue on Oakland Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·Oakland Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Welch Street
6
Continue on Portland - Peaks Island
2.5 mi·20 min·Portland - Peaks Island
7
Continue
187 ft·14 sec
8
Turn right onto Maine State Pier
74 ft·30 sec·Maine State Pier
9
Continue on Maine State Pier
0.1 mi·30 sec·Maine State Pier
10
Continue on US 1A
0.7 mi·1 min·Franklin Street
11
Take the ramp onto US 1A
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 1A
12
Merge onto I 295; US 1
46 mi·52 min·I 295; US 1
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 95
9.8 mi·10 min·Maine Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·26 sec
Exit 113Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
16
Merge onto ME 3
2.5 mi·3 min·Augusta Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
8.1 mi·11 min·North Belfast Avenue
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Belfast Road
19
Continue on US 202; ME 3; ME 9
18 mi·21 min·Route 3
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Acadia Highway
21
Continue on ME 3
3.4 mi·3 min·Belfast Augusta Road West
22
Continue on ME 3
4.8 mi·5 min·Augusta Road
23
Continue on ME 3
4.0 mi·4 min·Belmont Avenue
24
Take the exit onto ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·ME 3
25
Merge onto US 1; ME 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Route 1
26
Continue on US 1; ME 3
2.7 mi·4 min·Searsport Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on US 1; ME 3
7.0 mi·8 min·West Main Street
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; ME 3
6.3 mi·7 min·East Main Street
29
Continue on US 1; ME 3
1.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 1
30
Continue on US 1; ME 3
508 ft·12 sec·Route 1
31
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
1.0 mi·1 min·Route 1
32
Continue on US 1; ME 3; ME 15
9.4 mi·10 min·Acadia Highway
33
Continue on US 1; ME 3
8.5 mi·9 min·Bucksport Road
34
Continue on US 1; ME 3
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Main Street
35
Turn right onto ME 230
0.7 mi·1 min·Water Street
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto Foster Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Foster Street
37
Turn right onto US 1; ME 3
0.3 mi·43 sec·High Street
38
Turn left onto US 1; ME 3
31 mi·45 min·US 1; ME 3
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
39
Turn right onto US 1A
0.3 mi·29 sec·Bridge Street
40
Continue on US 1A
4.1 mi·6 min·Kennedy Highway
41
Continue on US 1A
3.0 mi·4 min·US Highway 1A
42
Continue on US 1A
0.2 mi·18 sec·Kennedy Highway
43
Continue on US 1
0.5 mi·47 sec·Main Street
44
Continue on US 1
14 mi·20 min·Route 1
45
Continue on US 1
3.3 mi·4 min·Harrington Road
46
Continue on US 1
0.2 mi·21 sec·Outer Dublin Street
47
Continue on US 1
2.3 mi·3 min·Dublin Street
48
Continue on US 1
4.3 mi·6 min·Main Street
49
Turn slight left onto US 1
3.1 mi·4 min·Main Street
50
Continue on US 1
9.5 mi·13 min·Route 1
51
Turn right onto ME 189
0.6 mi·1 min·Lubec Road
52
Continue on ME 189
9.3 mi·13 min·County Road
53
Continue on ME 189
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
54
Turn right onto ME 189
0.4 mi·44 sec·Washington Street
55
Turn left onto Pleasant Street
0.1 mi·36 sec·Pleasant Street
56
Turn right onto School Street
12 ft·0 sec·School Street
57
Arrive at destination
School Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 28-minute drive, leaving Portland early in the morning is advisable to maximize your daylight hours in Lubec. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself, but be sure to utilize rest areas on I-295 for breaks. The $37 fuel cost is manageable for a single day, so monitor your fuel levels, especially as you approach the more remote sections closer to Lubec. A key tip is to be prepared for the frequent turns once you transition off the main interstate sections; keeping your navigation active will be helpful.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.8 miles from City of Portland, ME, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 51 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lubec, ME than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Portland, ME so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from City of Portland, ME
This is one driving day of about 231.5 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from City of Portland, ME.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 295 for about 46.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 61.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~3m in|Welch Street
At end of road, turn left onto Welch Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
5 mi into trip|~28m in|I 295; US 1
Merge onto I 295; US 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
61 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 113
Toward ME 3: Augusta, Belfast
5
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge onto ME 3 / Augusta Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.33 one way
$72.66 round trip
$3.99/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$40.80
$81.59
premium
$4.81
$43.86
$87.71
diesel
$4.80
$43.71
$87.42
Estimated Tolls: $0.59
Maine Turnpike
(9.8 mi)$0.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.5
0
$24.31
$11.11
Efficient EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
EV Truck/SUV
92.6
1
$32.41
$14.82
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
City of Portland, ME
Night
in City of Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 20 to 30 mph54% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 2:42AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
Destination
Lubec, ME
Night
in Lubec on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
84°F
Orland, ME
116 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
5h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Acadia National Park
National Park
Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$6
near mile 159.7
Park Closure: Carriage Roads open to pedestrians only
Park Closure: Cadillac Summit Road Closed for Construction
Known as the first woman to hold a presidential cabinet position and the “Woman behind the New Deal,” Frances Perkins championed many labor rights that Americans enjoy today, including safety standard...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 39.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this 231.5-mile trip, with 58% of the route being highway. While there's a significant highway portion, much of the drive involves navigating local roads and making turns. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.3 miles on I-295, providing a brief opportunity for steady driving before transitioning back to more varied road conditions. This route offers a dynamic driving experience, shifting between faster sections and more intricate local travel.
Only 58% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
57 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.3 mi on I 295.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Welch Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 231.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
366 ft19 ft
Total Climb
735 ft
Total Descent
726 ft
Highest Point
366 ft
~132.3 mi in
Elevation Range
346 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from City of Portland, ME to Lubec, ME, road signs begin pointing toward Belfast along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 231.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on I 295. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.59 in tolls one way, starting with Maine Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lubec, ME before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through ME can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Welch Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 5 miles (I 295; US 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Acadia National Park and Frances Perkins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lubec, ME before the return drive.
